History

1828

Michael Nairn began manufacturing heavy canvas sailcloth in Kirkaldy, Scotland. The canvas was sold to manufacturers of floorcloth, the precursor to linoleum.

1847

Michael Nairn begins manufacturing painted linoleum floorcloth, licensing a patent from the inventor, Frederick Walton. Local skeptics called the new enterprise “Nairn’s Folly,” but after Nairn adds the use of ovens to the manufacturing process to reduce production time, the factory is able produce faster than its competition.

1851

Nairn exhibited his Scottish Floorcloth at the Great Exhibition at London’s Crystal Palace.

1858

Michael Nairn Sr. dies. Michael Nairn & Company continues to expand, run by his wife and sons.

1862

Nairn’s Floorcloth wins juried award at the London Exhibition.

1867

Michael Nairn Jr. commissions British ornament specialist Owen Jones, one of the most influential design theorists of the 19th century, to create a floorcloth pattern.
Nairn’s Floorcloth wins a juried award at the Paris Exhibition.

1870

Nairn builds a 6-storey factory in Kirkaldy.

1877

Frederick Walton’s patent on linoleum production expires.
Kirkaldy is the largest producer of Linoleum in the world.

The product name ‘Linoleum’ has become so dominant in the market, it is believed to have been the first ever genericized product name (like ‘Kleenex’ or ‘Band Aid’)—only 14 years after its invention.

1880s

Nairn’s business expands to England, France, Germany, and later, the United States.

1883

Michael Nairn patents a process to produce linoleum, marking the first of nearly 500 United States patents granted to companies affiliated with what is now Congoleum.

1886

Nairn establishes a U.S. branch of the company in Kearny, New Jersey. Nairn ships over many Scottish employees to help establish the new factory.

1902

The United Roofing and Manufacturing Co. in Erie, Pennsylvania produced “Congo” roofing, named for the asphalt it utilized from the African Congo.

1903

United Roofing and Manufacturing Co. expands their facilities and creates floor runners. To differentiate between the Congo roofing and the flooring material, the flooring was given the name Congoleum.

1906

The Nairn manufacturing process is improved to allow for colorful geometric shapes in a variety of patterns.

1911

Congoleum creates rug borders and area rugs, sold under the Congoleum Gold Seal Brand as an inexpensive alternative to traditional floor coverings. Barrett Co. of Delaware officially acquires United Roofing Manufacturing Co. and becomes Congoleum Co.
The company begins advertising in magazines to reach a broader consumer audience.

1920

Congoleum acquires Farr & Bailey Manufacturing Co., a linoleum factory in Camden, NJ, and opens a plant in Marcus Hook, PA.

1923

Congoleum purchases the Salem, New Jersey, plant of the Salem Manufacturing Co. for additional felt-base production.

1924

Congoleum acquired Nairn Linoleum Manufacturing Corporation and changed the name to Congoleum Nairn Inc.

1933

Vinyl plastic floor covering is first presented to the public at the Chicago World’s Fair.

1939

The Salem, NJ, plant closes and moves production into the Marcus Hook facility.

1940

Congoleum Nairn is the leading producer of felt-base, smooth-surfaced floor coverings.

1943

Production resumes at the Salem plant and continues until 1953.

1948

Congoleum Nairn introduces Congowall, an economical, printed enamel felt-based wall covering which resembles tile, but is much easier to install, and becomes popular with do-it-yourselfers.

1951

Congoleum Nairn acquires Delaware Floor Products, Inc., a Wilmington, Delaware producer of vinyl plastic tile, sheet-vinyl coverings for sinks and counter-tops, and felt-based floor coverings.
Congoleum Nairn begins producing rubber tile and desktop linoleum.

“Floor Show!” commercial spot for manufacturing linoleum airs on the television show “Industry on Parade”—the first TV commercial in history specific to flooring.

1953

Congoleum Nairn acquires Sloane-Blabon Corp., a floor covering manufacturer.

1957

Congoleum Nairn begins focusing more on asphalt and vinyl plastic tile, installing the largest rotogravure press in the world at the Marcus Hook facility.

1960

Congoleum Nairn is granted 40 patents in a single year.Congoleum Nairn is granted 40 patents in a single year.

1968

Congoleum Nairn is first to sell No-Wax floors, originally introduced as Shinyl Vinyl allowed customers the comfort of cushioning, realistic designs and easy maintenance.
Congoleum Nairn is purchased by Bath Industries, a major ship building operation and changes the company name to Congoleum Industries.

1970

Congoleum Industries introduces the Chromabond Protection System for superior stain and mildew resistance in floor covering.
Over 400 different patterns and colors in flooring are in production, the most in the industry

1975

Bath Industries changes the name to Congoleum.

1980

Congoleum becomes a privately-held company.
Introduces the Scuff Tuff wearlayer which offers a high gloss, urethane finish with exceptional scuff resistance.

1986

Hillside Industries assumed ownership of Congoleum.

1987

Switches from hazardous solvents to water-based inks to help reduce pollution in the atmosphere.

1990s

Introduces Bac-Stop mildew protection to every flooring product, helping prevent discoloration due to mildew, bacteria and alkali.

1995

Congoleum becomes a publicly traded company.
Introduces Futura, the flagship product of ‘a new generation of residential flooring’; Forum Wood Plank, a vinyl tile sold in plank form with a realistic natural wood color and grain; and Ultraflor, a higher-priced, ultra-durable vinyl sheet for manufactured-housing builders.

2003

DuraCeramic, a patented revolutionary Luxury Vinyl Tile is introduced into the market.

2004

Congoleum is the first company in the industry to fuse Scotchgard Protector into the wearlayer to provide easy cleanability and durability.

2008

Congoleum introduces its line of AirStep products which allow the flooring to stay flat.

2010

Congoleum becomes a private company.

2012

Congoleum breaks ties with American Biltrite and becomes a new private company.

2013

Launches Structure, a fashionable luxury vinyl tile and plank collection.

2014

Launches Timeless, a luxury plank and tile collection of on-trend color and designs.

2015

Introduces ArmorCore, a resilient sheet line for residential builders and multi-family property. In addition, the revolutionary QuikStik UnderFlor, a self-adhesive underflor for floating resilient installations was developed and introduced.

2016

Triversa, a 100% waterproof resilient plank collection was developed and introduced.